We Hear You! Letters from Our March 2012 Issue

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MORE • Editors

I am receiving More magazine and enjoy it very much. Thanks.

I was quite taken (in good ways) with you Letter in the March issue ("The end of the 'firsts'"). I teach a college class (among other things) as we talk about the importance of firsts - firsts in one's own life as well as firsts for the world at large, and all in between. So thanks for providing a nice boost to the discussion.
--Tom Squitieri

I have been a devoted reader of More for many years because as a magazine dedicated originally to women age 40+ it spoke to me, a woman who is in that demographic. I recently decided to enter the More Beauty Search and saw that the rules state that participants must be at least 30 years of age! On closer inspection, I also noticed that the February 2012 issue has a feature regarding hair for ages 30 and over. When did More become younger? Are there not enough beautiful, fascinating, and sexy women over the age of 40 to keep your magazine in business? Are there not enough beautiful and sexy women over the age of 40 to participate in your beauty search? What is your magazine suggesting? Are you caving in to the pressure of our society that emphasizes youth? As a 46 year old woman, I feel insulted that this magazine, which I once highly regarded, has succumbed to the idea that younger is somehow better for business. Are there not enough magazines out there to address the issues of those in their early years of adulthood? As I age, what magazine will I have to turn to? I feel insulted and profoundly disappointed. I will not be renewing my subscription.
--Irene Stadnyk, New York, NY

I enjoyed your important article entitled, "When You Can't Get a Diagnosis," but I was disappointed at the use of "he" when referring to physicians. I applaud the citations of female doctors, researchers, and specialists, but was dismayed that doctors are still referred to as male. A direct quotation is one thing, but generic reference should include the female option--especially in a women's magazine.

Thank you.
--Candace

Lesley:

While I applaud your editorial “The End of the Firsts” for its message of women breaking new ground, I was disappointed on your take on southern women and the south in general. When I started the article and read you were asked by New England classmates why you would want to attend a college where everyone “sounds dumb”, I assumed you would make the point that southerners are indeed as intelligent as any other group of people. Moreover, southerners are generally a gracious, courteous people who genuinely care for others. As a proud southern woman, I feel you should raise the flag for all women, not just those in other parts of the country!
--Luanne Schafner, Augusta, GA

I love the magazine and look forward to every issue. However, for a publication that celebrates women over 40, I'm very disappointed about the heavy use of airbrushing on all the fabulous women you feature. We should be celebrating aging gracefully. Why does More -- of all magazines -- cover up laugh lines and try so hard to make the stars you feature look like they're 25? For that matter, I'd love to see More take a stand and require cosmetic companies that advertise on your pages to not use airbrushing. Wouldn't it be lovely if there was one magazine out there that glorified women as they are?

Thanks!
--Margaret Harrist, Austin, TX

Julianne Moore is a beautiful, 51 year old woman who you make the point of saying, in your interview of her, has no interest or inclination to get plastic surgery.

So WHY do you airbrush the hell out of her face on your cover????????????

Your magazine is all about celebrating women being beautiful as they age so LET THEM AGE.

Her face is lacking LIFE ~ experience, life lines, joy, pain.....

So tired of women being airbrushed to death.
--Alexandra Martella, Lyons, CO
I love your magazine but my only complaint is that the print is too small and too light. I wear contacts but still have trouble reading your magazine! I am only 46 but would love it if you made it larger for those of us whose eyes are just not what they used to be!

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Comments

I have to agree with some of the women who have posted questioning the obvious complete airbushing of this cover. Julianne Moore is a beautiful woman..a beautiful woman who is aging just as the rest of us are. We're all trying to find the best ways to deal with our aging looks, to accept it gracefully while trying so hard not to let our self esteem fall by the wayside as fast as our faces and bodies are falling.
To show us a photograph of a woman our own age who apparently has less wrinkles than a 4 year old child is just insulting and more than a little depressing. We all understand this isn't what she actually looks like but for a magazine that began for older women to feel good about themselves and to make the most of what they have, would it have been so horrible to show a cover of a beautiful woman who is still beautiful even while aging?

I thought it was me, but my husband picked up my current issue of MORE and asked me what happened to the magazine! What first attracted me to MORE was relevant articles for women who were 40-50-60, and the advertising was also properly targeted. I'm 53, have been reading your magazine for at least 4 years, and am insulted by the ads in the current issue - the first 3 pages are (as my husband correctly puts it) "20-something sticks", including the article on page 86 with lovely, young, super thin actress Lesley Bibb in clothing for less than $150. Although I did enjoy reading the article on Julianne Moore, it was absolutely ridiculous to promote the Dolce & Gabbana, etc. clothing and accessories when you only photographed Ms Moore's upper body with most of the clothing covered by her hair! Who in the world do you want as readers?

Fabulous article Second acts, Rene' Syler, it was interesting & informative, excellent coverage.
She's a lady after my own heart, get canned, have pre-cancer surgery and still land on your feet.
Thank you More, March 2012

As a 58 year old woman, I find that MORE seems to focus more on information relevant to women under 51. My friend, also 58, agrees with me on this. She cancelled her subscription for that reason alone. When you say "this is age (whatever)" I can't remember the last time you chose a woman my age. It's either they're under 51 or over 60. It's as if we're the hidden age group 51-60. We do exist and we're important too. Our issues are changing bodies, changing health issues related to menopause, and in some cases, changing jobs. We are still interested in beauty, however, we need to approach it from a different mindset at our age. I like Julianne Moore's comment about her approach to aging.
My life has changed so much since my daughter went off to college this past year. I'm now an empty nester. I've been a stay at home mom and then working from my home since she was born and dianosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder with Aspberger symptoms. In the past five years I've gone back to school for a second degree, attending classes with kids the same age as my daughter, which was weird, and am now looking for interesting work relevant to my experience, and where I feel appreciated and part of a team. Even though I don't have to work, I want to work. I miss the social interaction of working outside the home. Prior to my daughter's birth, I worked for 25 years. Women my age are not obsolete. We have a lot of life experience and I personally also have skills relevant to the marketplace. I'm debating whether to beef up my own business by starting a website to make it more visible, or go work for someone else. I'm tired of the job interviews where the people interviewing me are young enough to be my children. The shock on their faces when they see how old I am is palpable. This is why I'm leaning towards growing my own business. Please do more articles about women like myself and I'll renew my subscription.

MORE is the magazine I read first and is often the only one I make time to read. So, thanks for having a publication which has age-appropriate stories, fashion, and ads!
As for firsts, in 1970, my high school peers laughed at me when I said I was going to be a lawyer. I was the only one in my graduating class of several hundred to become one. In 1976, only 10% of my law school class were females. Three years later, I became one of the first five female prosecutors in my state. Some of my male colleagues said I should quit and leave room for a man who needs to support his family. Continuing in the law enforcement field, I later joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and achieved through the ranks to become its first female Chief Counsel in 1996. Six years ago, I switched agencies to become the first female General Counsel at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
My parents never blinked when I told them, at age 17, that I wanted to become a trial lawyer. They said I could be anything I wanted to be as long as I worked hard for it. (And, I would need to pay for it myself!) Their adage proved true. While I did not set out to be a trail blazer, I became one and have enjoyed every stop on the way!
Cindy Ryan
Fairfax, VA

I have been a loyal subscriber since More's first issue, but I was really surprised when I saw (what I feel) is a totally photoshopped cover of Julianne Moore. Granted, she looks beautiful, but I question your decision to make her look 25 years old. She is a woman in her 50's and it is very hypocritical of a magazine that prides itself on celebrating "women over 40" to so brazenly hide this lovely woman's freckles, fine lines, etc. What message are you sending to all the women in their 40's, 50's and beyond? That they should strive to look like they are in their 20's again? That it is unbecoming to age gracefully? Let's stop with the phony covers that strip these models and actresses of their natural beauty in a frenzied attempt to make them appear years younger. Shame on you More! Practice what you supposedly preach and stop trying to make everyone look 25 years old again.